Bulldogs look to end district losing streak tonight against Holland Hall
The Muldrow Bulldogs will look to end their District 3A-3 three-game losing streak tonight when they travel to meet the Tulsa Holland Hall Dutch at 7 p.m. in Tulsa.
The ’Dogs (4-3 overall, 1-3 in district play) have lost their last three district games, with the latest setback a 48-0 loss last week to No. 1 Lincoln Christian at Marty Rogers Field. Despite the loss, Muldrow coach Logan Coatney said his team has shown signs of perseverance this week.
“I’m pleased with where we’re at,” he said. “I had the kids in here (Monday) morning. They haven’t given up on the season by any means. We were locked in during film study (Monday) morning. We’re trying to do what’s best for the team and the program as a whole. We’re putting guys in positions to make plays, and I think we have a good game plan. The kids have to go execute it. We have to understand this week we have to put ourselves in a position to execute on Friday night.”
Coatney said a win is very much in order tonight.
“For us in this district, this district is tougher (to try to figure out) than Chinese arithmetic,” Coatney said. “In my opinion, we have five, maybe even six, teams in this district that should be playoff teams. The way it fell for this cycle (of redistricting), there’s going to be one or two really good football teams left at home. I feel like we’re one of those that could possibly be left at home this year. This is the honesty of it. We have to win out I think for us to have a chance. There’s crazier things that have happened, but to put ourselves in the best position possible we have to win these next three. We’ll see how the cards fall, and see how everything plays out. What we can control is these next three (district games). It would be big time for us to go win these next three when you look at the playoff picture.” The Dutch (4-3, 2-2) are on a two-game district winning streak since they lost 55-0 to No. 1 Lincoln Christian on Oct. 4 and 41-7 to Idabel in the district opener Sept. 26. The Dutch beat Checotah 3332 last week after handling Eufaula 20-7 on Oct. 11.
Coatney said the Dutch remind him a lot of Class 3A’s top-ranked team in the state.
“It’s the same things that concerned us with Lincoln Christian,” he said. “They’ve had a few closer games this season than Lincoln (Christian) has had. At the end of the day, Holland Hall is a good football team. They’re a physical football team up front. They have good athletes. They’re skilled. I think (Tulsa Holland Hall) coach (Brian) Thompson does a great job with those guys up there. We’re still going to prepare for it. We’re going to work our butts off this week and put a good game plan together to give ourselves an opportunity (to win the game).”
Coatney said the Bulldogs will need to play as near a perfect game as possible to leave Tulsa tonight victorious.
“We’ve got to go out there and be as close to perfect as we can,” Coatney said. “Our kids are going to have to hone in and lock in this week. We’re going to have to execute. We’re going to have to try to go 1-0 every day to give us an opportunity to go up there and get a win.”
Coatney said the ’Dogs will be in as good a physical shape as humanly possible for tonight’s crucial district road game.
“I think we’re as healthy as we could have come out of it,” he said.
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TO GET THERE — Take U.S. 64 west to Interstate 40. Take I-40 west to the Muskogee Turnpike. Take the Muskogee Turnpike west to the Creek Turnpike. Take the Creek Turnpike west to U.S. 64/169. Take U.S 64/169 north to 81st Street. Take 81st Street west to Tulsa Holland Hall High School.
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District 3A-3 Standings
Team District Overall Points
LINCOLN CHRISTIAN 4-0 7-0 60
IDABEL 3-1 5-2 44
CHECOTAH 3-1 5-2 32
HOLLAND HALL 2-2 4-3 -16
EUFAULA 1-3 2-5 -14
LOCUST GROVE 1-3 3-4 -30
MULDROW 1-3 4-3 -32
STIGLER 1-3 2-5 -44
